Pathfinder Bard-Duelist

[Appull]

I just started playing pathfinder and I don't know much about leveling or how to best put my character together. I already started at level 1 with weapon finesse and we are about to level to 2. I figured before I start leveling badly I should ask for some advice. My goal is to be more reliant on not being hit than it is on being able to take a hit. I'm playing a halfling so I'm trying to use the small size as an advantage for duelist. I want to be more duelist than bard, using the bard to buff stats than the duelist to fight. But still staying high charisma so in town he can still be the flirty halfling musician that everyone knows and likes.

Pretty much does anyone know what feats/spells/items I should being trying to obtain.

[Psyren]

Rule 1 of learning a class in Pathfinder - always check for handbooks :smallsmile:

All The World's A Stage (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ogz8HL6GeguT-tN3-6HxXiF_G7mg_tyAQ59V9kPg6g4/edit?pli=1)

Building a Better Bard (http://www.panicmotion.net/2013/08/14/building-a-better-bard-the-support-bard/)

Treantmonk's Guide to Bards (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/extras/community-creations/treatmonks-lab/test2)

Rather than actually try to be a Bard/Duelist, have you looked at the Arcane Duelist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/bard/archetypes/paizo---bard-archetypes/arcane-duelist) archetype? This will give you a combat-focused bard who does not have to multiclass at all, and you will continue to get full skills and spellcasting progression.

[Da'Shain]

Dervish of Dawn (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/bard/archetypes/paizo---bard-archetypes/dawnflower-dervish) archetype for the bard is pretty much for you if you're looking to buff only yourself -- it can make you into a powerhouse Dex build, and with a few feats you can have a pretty high AC as well (though they're nowhere near as good as they used to be, the Crane Style feat chain here (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/style-feats) ends up giving you +6 Dodge AC for only -1 to attack rolls when fighting defensively, which'll be a drop in the bucket compared to your battle dancing).

If you're not set on the stereotypical duelist style, though, Arcane Duelist is probably your best bet, as Psyren said. It will, however, eat into your skill utility a fair amount by replacing Versatile Performance, which is what makes Bards pretty much auto-win at skills.